Westpac Foundation’s Post

Social Enterprise Day is this Thursday, and where better to spend your money than within a blossoming Social Enterprise Place? 🛍💳🙌 Because that’s what Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is, winning Social Enterprise Place status from Social Enterprise UK last October. LCR was given the honour because of our thriving social economy, powered by the socially-trading organisations (STOs) who are investing – and reinvesting – their time, profits and energy to build stronger communities and a fairer local economy. Thursday’s #SocialEnterpriseDay isn’t a new thing. It’s a global movement, taking place every third Thursday in November. It’s a celebration of STOs, social enterprises and the work they do for us all. We believe STOs deserve more than just a day in the spotlight, though, and hope Thursday (and all the days around it) will help you to find new brands, businesses, services and more in your area, and show you why they deserve your money more than another faceless big-name brand. For every £1 spent with an STO across LCR, the money stays within the region. You’re supporting them, their work, and helping our social economy and the communities it works for thrive. We also have a surprise announcement planned for Thursday’s Social Enterprise Day, so keep your eyes peeled 👀 Until then, you can find out more about how LCR became a Social Enterprise Place on our blog: https://lnkd.in/erxryMwu 📸 - Enes Gundogdu, Unsplash #TogetherWeAreMighty

Over the years, I have grown immensely as a result of taking out time to invest positively in my community, which has led to countless opportunities for growth and discoveries; the world of making a change does not just lie in our commitment to meeting personalized goals, as much as that sounds great and beautiful, it is important to note that it still expands towards making sustainable impact to the community building. Five years ago, I volunteered with ENACTUS AAUA, which helped me gain insights into community structure and growth; this platform made me realize how community engagement and service have the power to transform individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. Community service is beyond just volunteering; it is a massive tool for change, growth, productivity, and unity. As professionals of different fields and industries, we often have our gaze on personal goals and aspirations, which is beautiful and a milestone to take on, but there is a need to highlight and point out the transformative contribution of community service to our personal and professional development. What Do I Mean🤔? Community service works in a way that harnesses valuable skillsets such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and exploring the world of change with like minds, which is attributed to networking opportunities. Its benefits expand towards professional networking, social responsibility, and accountability meetings, fostering engagement and social involvement in communities. An interesting fact about community service is how real-world impacts are improving the world of health, social innovations in education, empowerment environmental sustainability, etc. Getting involved in community service procures you the stability of research that aligns with your passion and volunteering skills; embracing the spirit of service brings a stronger force that promotes personal growth, social and environmental positive change, and creating a better world for all. There are countless examples of individuals making a difference in the world of building a great community to live in; why don't you join this movement of promoting community service by just finding a niche of what you are passionate about and getting involved? Together, we can make a difference. #communityservice #togetherwecanmakeachange #communityengagement #sustainableimpacts #socialchange #SDGs #growth

Did you know Intopia is a certified B-Corp? B Corp Certification isn’t just a mark; it’s a global movement of companies and people going beyond business as usual to make their mark on the world. Being a B-Corp means we join forces with over 7,800 companies worldwide, with 650+ B-Corps in Australia and New Zealand. B-Corps envision a better economic system where businesses can benefit people, communities, and the planet. As a social enterprise, giving back to the community has been Intopia’s purpose from the very beginning. Whether we're volunteering for good causes, actively nurturing an inclusive workplace, or aligning with the Pledge 1% movement, every step we take is toward a better world. Want to know what it takes to be a B-Corp and join the better business revolution? Find out more on the B-Corp website: https://lnkd.in/dEGKvJC #BCorp #BCorpMonth #SocialEnterprise

🚀 Exciting Opportunity for African Innovators! 🚀 The ACT Foundation’s Changemakers Innovation Challenge 2024 is now open for applications! This prestigious challenge seeks to empower nonprofits and social enterprises across Africa that leverage technology and digital tools to create meaningful social change. Whether you’re addressing education, healthcare, sustainability, or any other critical issue aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this is your chance to scale your impact. 🌍 Who Can Participate? - Nonprofits and Social Enterprises: Registered with the relevant government agency in their respective countries. - Innovative Social Impact Businesses: Utilizing technology or digital systems as key components of their solutions. - Organizations Across Africa: Focused on community impact and innovation. 📅 Key Dates: - Application Deadline: July 12th, 2024 - Program Dates: Winners announced at the annual ACT Foundation Breakfast Dialogue in October 2024. 🎁 Benefits for Participants: - Grant Funding: Financial support for the top three winners to scale their innovative solutions across various communities. - Technical Support: Including software, hardware, or capacity-building training as needed. - Recognition and Visibility: Be celebrated and gain visibility at the annual ACT Foundation Breakfast Dialogue. - Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded innovators and potential partners. 🔍 Eligibility Requirements: - Must have a significant focus on community impact and innovation. - Solutions should be beyond the pilot stage and have been implemented within the last two years. - Provide evidence of impact through links, videos, pictures, etc. - Previous winners of the challenge are not eligible to apply again. 📝 How to Apply: - Submit your innovative solutions - Ensure all entries are in English and adhere to the application guidelines. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to make a real difference in your community! Apply now and take the first step towards scaling your innovative solutions. For more details and to apply, visit our website below. #SocialImpact #Nonprofits #InnovationChallenge #TechForGood #AfricanInnovation #ACTFoundation #CommunityImpact #GrantFunding #DigitalTransformation #SDGs #Changemakers #Siderville #CareerOpportunities #SocialImpact #ProfessionalDevelopment #ApplyNow #Internships #Fellowships #InnovationChallenge #fullyfunded #EnvironmentalLeadership #GlobalOpportunities #Opportunitiesforyouth https://lnkd.in/dqHpZzBn

If you always wanted to know what a Social Enterprise is - take a few minutes to watch this video

So excited to see social enterprise thriving here in Norwich. There are 131,000 social enterprises in the UK and as our own here in Norwich demonstrate, they operate across sectors and tend to be both more diverse than mainstream businesses and outperform them too. 🚀 84% are #livingwage employers 🚀 22% operate in the most deprived areas of the UK (compared to 14% of mainstream business) 🚀 43% have at least one leader from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds So if you’re someone or a business wanting to actually make a difference in real communities, you know where to look to partner for change. #socialenterprise #change #hope #socent #impact #thirdsector #norwich

📍 Business for Societal Impact (B4SI) Network recently gathered in Brisbane, hosted by The Lottery Corporation (TLC), to tackle social impact challenges in highly regulated industries. Hans de Koning, TLC's Head of Community Partnerships and Environmental Initiatives, highlighted the critical role of B4SI in ensuring transparency and accountability. 🌱 In industries where trust is paramount, aligning with B4SI's framework helps TLC demonstrate the genuine impact of their community investments. Discover how TLC is setting a new standard for social responsibility and stakeholder trust. https://lnkd.in/eCjAuvWk

🌟 Struggling with Social Value in Bids? You're Not Alone! 🌟 In the competitive world of bidding, we've noticed that many companies, particularly SMEs, still face challenges in crafting compelling Social Value responses. For SMEs, competing against larger corporations can often feel like a David & Goliath scenario, particularly when it comes to Social Value. While larger organisations may boast dedicated teams and resources for calculating Social Return on Investment (SROI) or impact, SMEs may find it more challenging to demonstrate their social value contributions. But fear not! There are ways for SMEs to level the playing field and create competitive Social Value offers: ✅Employing local people ✅ Local recruitment initiatives ✅ Investing in training and apprenticeships ✅ Engaging local suppliers  ✅ Supporting local charities and community groups ✅ Implementing environmentally friendly practices Want to learn more? Read our latest blog where we explore strategies for SMEs to create a winning Social Value offer and compete effectively in bids. https://lnkd.in/ekDHNJzr #SMEs #SocialValue #BiddingTips

🇿🇦🥹What would you do with a million rand to create social impact in your community... within a year? Let's unpack the Mr Price Foundation's R45 million (m) investment in tomorrow’s potential. Hello. I'm Zodwa, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) girlie obsessed with Annual Integrated Reports covering CSR activities. Let's complete season 1 of my LinkedIn series. Activating socio-economic change requires an opportunity for youth to be Picked. This, in order to Start a movement which Lifts individuals and communities, helping give Rise to a country imagined.💪🏾🎯 The Mr Price Group Foundation spearheads four programmes designed to activate this change. JumpStart, EduRise, HandPicked, and UpLift target youth skills development creating earnings potential. ✅️JumpStart, valued at R24.21 m, upskilled 7 252 youth from nine provinces. Around 90% of whom were matched with employment meeting the demands of industry partners. ✍️🏾🏢 ✅️Forty schools were impacted by EduRise's commitment to improving literacy and numeracy levels at low-income primary schools using a generational investment of R4.63 m. ✅️HandPicked, the agricultural small business development programme, invested R4.59 m towards the growth of 40 entrepreneurs. A great harvest if you ask me, worthy of 1.47 tonnes of fresh produce. 🚜🥗 ✅️Around R4.15 m contributed towards UpLift's mission of supporting 154 youth across the country, living in townships, to launch and sustain businesses, gaining access to new markets. 🎉🙌🏾With a R29 m surplus, take a bow, Mr Price Foundation. The year ending March 2024 achieved its mission for youth-focused development opportunities that delivered sustained impact. Full report: https://lnkd.in/dU3wzRe6

Ending the Week on a High Note! This week wrapped up with two energising organising meetings that have set the stage for exciting new partnerships in 2025: 1️⃣ Addressing Multiple Disadvantage I have the pleasure of working with the brilliant Greg Headley from Making Every Adult Matter and our fabulous core team with Chantahl Rodwell as co-lead (I couldn’t ask for anyone better!) to explore how we can better address the immense inequalities faced by people experiencing multiple disadvantage. These often stem from childhood adversity and are exacerbated over time by structural inequalities. I’m optimistic about the potential for Cumberland to lead the way in creating meaningful change for this group and our wider community. 2️⃣ Building an Anchor Collaborative The second workshop brought together several anchor organisations prior to our summit in January to deepen our work on a collaborative approach to delivering real benefits for our communities with shared goals and approaches. We’re focusing on four key areas: • Workforce • Estates • Environment • Social Value It was inspiring to listen to the conversations in each of the workstreams on the shared commitment to maximising collective impact in these areas! I’m also eager to dive deeper into what’s ahead for #WorkAndHealth initiatives in 2025. With the North East and North Cumbria ICS receiving £18m for the Accelerator programme and Enterprising Cumbria leading on #connecttowork (part of the new Get Britain Working strategy), again there’s significant opportunity to make a real difference. I’m particularly keen to ensure the invaluable skills and experience of the #VCFSE sector are embedded in both these programmes. In addition to the above, I’ve taken on an interim role in social enterprise, stepping in while Martin Allman transitions to Westmorland and Furness. Social enterprise is a sector close to my heart—my ALP experience and BSc were rooted in this area, and I’ve been involved with Social Enterprise Cumbria ever since. It feels like coming home, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with partners to drive this agenda forward. Martin will be a loss to Cumberland Council but I look forward to continuing to work with him as a counterpart and valued colleague in Westmorland and Furness Council. Across all of this, my focus remains on addressing #Inequalities in Cumberland, harnessing the power of communities and partnerships to create sustainable change. Here’s to a busy, impactful year ahead! a new plan to address #poverty 🙏 - and a personal one for me - to hopefully have good health, as this year I’ve not been well at times and have had to cut some of my personal commitments due to this - for example I look forward to getting back to Susan’s Farm next year I’m missing my 🐑 cuddles! #CommunityPower #SocialEnterprise #PartnershipWorking #collaboration #Cumberland #Cumbria #healthinequalities